Being a synopsis of the press conference given by Dr Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of TREM on Monday April 10, 2006.

Gentlemen and women of the press, I bring you greetings in the name that is above every other name, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God and our soon coming King. It is with joy that I welcome you to this press briefing announcing the 25th anniversary of this ministry. As I look back today at 4th of January 1981 when this ministry was officially launched, I cannot but thank God for how far He has taken us. Indeed in 1981, we were a ministry without any form or comeliness that any should desire us. Many did not give us a chance to survive, but today, after 25 years, what looked like a “mushroom” has become “much-room”. On the inaugural service we were only a handful, but today, the Lord has multiplied us to 140 branches spread across the nations of the world and 200 Pastors. Not only have we increased in numbers, the Lord has enabled us to positively impact our world.

To mark the 25th year anniversary of the ministry, we will be giving out 25 motorcycles to 25 ministers in rural areas in Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Osun, Ekiti, and Ebonyi states. We will also recognize the contribution of members of staff, both pastoral and non-pastoral, who have been with the ministry for at least 10 years in full time employment, by giving a long service award. Like I always say, without a vision the people will perish, but I also know that without a people, the vision will die. The contribution of these men and women cannot be overemphasized and it is my prayer that as the Lord has filled our mouth with testimony as a ministry, their lives will be a bundle of testimonies to the glory of God.

A major highlight of this celebration is the consecration of the six National Coordinators of the Ministry as Bishops on the 22nd of April 2006. Those to be consecrated are: Dr. Peace Okonkwo, (National Coordinator Lagos and Abuja Zone), Rev. Walter Mbamara, (National Coordinator South-East Zone), Rev. Bethuel Korakpe, (National Coordinator, Special Zone), Dr. Kanayo Enuma, (Northern Zone), Rev Reuben Oke (National Coordinator South West Zone) and Rev Dan Nnani (National Coordinator South-South Zone)

L-R: Bishop Enuma, Bishop Korape, Bishop Okonkwo, Bishop Oke, Bishop Mbamara and Bishop Nnani

Dr. Peace Okonkwo was born on the 10th of June 1952, at Idemili Local Government area of Anambra State. Dr. Peace is a great woman of God, whose love for women folk and children is exceptional and this is seen in her readiness to go an extra mile for these groups of people. It was her love for them that gave birth to the International Women Prayer Conference, an interdenominational gathering of women that holds every month at the TREM HQ in Lagos. The program also holds twice a year in Port Harcourt and Abuja and other cities in Nigeria. The program has also spread to other nations including Gabon, Cote D’Ivoire, London, Israel and the United States of America. She is the Proprietress of Word of Power Group of Schools, and founder Rehoboth Homes and skill acquisition centre a place for stranded ladies. She is a member of Board of Trustees and Adviser or TREM. In 2005, she was the recipient of the Nigerian Woman of the Year Award by the Media Dreams Network and also the Eastern Nigeria Role Mode Award. She is a woman of many parts. She is a wife, mother and a friend. She is a woman whose life has challenged several people.

Rev. Mbamara was born on the 1st of August, 1947; in Owerri-Ezikala in the present Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State of Nigeria. Walter Chikadibia Mbamara is an accomplished minister of God. He was the pioneer Pastor of Amukoko (Now Ojo Road) branch in 1981. He has served in many branches of the ministry and he is presently the Resident Pastor of the Ijesha branch of the Ministry, since 1983. Rev. Walter is the National Coordinator for South East zone, a member of the Board of Trustees and Advisers and member of the Board of Governors of God’s Army Bible College and an Executive member of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos Chapter.

Rev. Bethuel Korakpe was born in March 1941. He is a man of the God who is very passionate about the word of God. He currently Pastors the Market Road Aba branch of the Ministry since 1990. He is the National Coordinator of the Special Zone and Member of Board of Trustees and Adviser of TREM.

Dr. Kanayo Enuma born in Nnewi, Anambra State of Nigeria, was a captain in the defunct Biafra Army and accepted Christ on 31st of March 1973. He hold a doctorate degree in Public Administration from the University of Miami, USA and was called into full time ministry on the 31st of March 1983 in Miami. He is a warrior, a teacher and a prolific writer. He is the Pastor in Charge of TREM Ojo Road Branch and the National Coordinator of TREM Northern Zone. He is a member of Board of Trustees and Advisers of TREM. He is also the coordinator of God‘s Army Bible College (GABC).

Rev Oke was born on January 1, 1957. He received call to the ministry in 1980 and entered full time ministry in July of same year. He is a humble teacher of the word of God who is so passionate in the things of God. He is a member of the Board of Advisers and Trustees of TREM, the Church Growth Adviser, National Co-ordinator, Ministers’ Affairs, and second Vice Chairman Board of Governors, God’s Army Bible College (GABC). He is the Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship (PFN) Ogun State Chapter.

Rev. Daniel C. N. Nnani, Pastor, TREM Apapa, was born on Sept. 23 1952 in Port Harcourt. Rev. Dan was the Director of African Missions of the ministry and is presently the National Coordinator, South-South Zone of TREM. He is a member of TREM Board of Advisers and a member of Board of Governors of God’s Army Bible College (G.A.B.C). He is the current Chairman of Alumni Association of G.A.B.C and the Chairman of “Men Can we Talk”, the men’s ministry of the Bishop of TREM.

All of these Bishops-Elect have not only distinguished themselves in their areas of ministry over the years, but have also raised leaders who are serving in various capacities within and outside the ministry of TREM.

Gentlemen and women of the press, for us in TREM, we have not yet arrived. Like Paul, we have chosen to forget the things that are behind and press on because we know that the best days are here and it is getting better and better. Like never before, we are committed to taking the church away from the four walls to everywhere our members are located. We intend to positively impact our world and be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

I therefore invite you all to join us in this great time of celebration from the 18th to the 23rd of April 2006. We will be having anointed men and women of God including Bishop Charles Agyin Asare from Ghana and Bishop Joseph Imakando from Zambia who will be teaming up with other anointed men and women from Nigeria to be a blessing throughout the week. It promises to be a great time of refreshing in the presence of the Lord. Thanks so much for coming and God bless you real good is my prayer.

Signed: Dr. Mike Okonkwo
The Presiding Bishop